Friday, November 07, 2008

permits to sing christmas carols ???

Raja Petra released !!
Yes that was indeed the best news today, but what was more disturbing was this comment I received in my comment box below:
Anonymous said...

Unrelated – Stephen, may I ask if in your area the BEC leader have to get a police permit for “Christmas Carols” sung from house to house during Advent ?
Over here, we go around the blocks for 4 days the maximum in a group of 20 i.e., children and adults, dressed like Santa, carry a guitar and other smaller musical instruments. Never have loud speakers. How much of noise can we be making ? The police had last year asked for list of the Christmas songs, not enough that they want the lyrics also. Is this fair ? And the Government is calling USA racist !!

Yellow Rose of Texas

11/07/2008 09:24:00 AM

Now I, for the life of me and for as long as I have been in existence on this here great land of mine cannot remember when such rulings came about ! I don't know where "over here" is, as written by the commentor but since when did you have to apply for a permit and to submit to such "conditions" ?

Unless you are a first generation son/daughter of an immigrant here in Malaysia, I have in all my life enjoyed this 1 week or so to the run-up of Christmas by little children and youths going from house to house singing songs that are only too familiar to all Malaysians irrespective of race or religion.....and you too, as a true blue born and bred Malaysian of every race and religion know how innocently heart-warming these carols are, yes ??

Come now "real" people of Malaysia.....don't tell me "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer" are seditious or threatening in someone converting to Christianity ?? When are these bigots going to learn that we have always lived in this plural civil society which NOT tolerated BUT accepted and respected each other's religious traditions during such festivities ?? This singing sessions organised by the respective faithfuls also inculcates values and talents of being a part of the truely Malaysian family and sure beats and keep youths from being scum-bags, better known as "mat-rempits", right?

And the singular and most spectacular factor of being uniquely Malaysian is the "open-house" concept during festivities not just for one race or religion BUT for ALL races and religions ! That IS Malaysia and has always been THAT ! And now this...hmmmm !

So which over-zealous fanatic now came up with these idiotic "conditions"...... huh ? Surely Malaysians never had a problem with Christmas carolers before, so why now ??

And if the morons in the local authorities do not recognise this uniqueness and demand for such ludicrous "conditions" to this age old Christmas-time Malaysian tradition (and this has nothing to do with ape-ing the west ...kapish ??) of carollers accompanied by youths strumming box-guitars going around from house to house and in every town in the country that has been with us Malaysians from the time of our fore-fathers (yes...yours and mine !) landed here in Malaya back in the 1800's, then I condemn those who now demand these "conditions" for being their own worst enemies and proclaim them now as the real "pendatangs" !

I am stumped and pissed-off with this ruling today and somebody better have a damn good explanation !!.......Sheeeesh !!... and to quote pasquale.......NO CHEERS TODAY !

*picture-extracted from google images in Malaysia-without permission.

21 comments:

kalimullah hassan said...

how you doin shang ? meet up later for drinks !cheers mate

Anonymous said...

i guess if permit is needed for xmas carolling .. it will only happen in this bolehland .. anything stupid always happened nowadays ... ammuno getting back and backwards .. try to show who's in power konon...

Anonymous said...

This is ridiculous. This is ludicrous. What has Malaysia come to? The world has moved on but Malaysia is still 50 years behind. Malaysia Boleh? Nuts.

Shanghai Fish said...

attn: yellow rose of texas.
Please contactl me @ 017-8814479 urgently. Thanks and cheers !

Anonymous said...

Aiyoh bro...this ruling has been around for decades lah. Where have you guys been living?

I must say I've never been asked for the titles and lyrics to the song though! I can live with the ruling but not having to provide lyrics. That is wayyyyyy too much!

andrea bakhita yip said...

Hello there Godpa... This is going out of the way man!! I can't believe it! Am I dreaming?? Oh My Gosh... Now we cousin can't go for carols any more??

GobloKing said...

maybe polis just wanted lyrics to sngalong at shops & malls where xmas songs are played incessantly?

Ohh...solly. Forgot many of our finest tak paham engeris..so wat they want lyrics for ah?

Somemore ah...they are not standing there right next to carolling group to ensure lyrics are strictly adhered to?

Maybe they pass the lyrics to neighbours & tell them to jaga that the carollers follow lyrics?

Don't get mad lah. We know the "4's an illegal gathering" law, enforceable entirely up to their discretion.

but maybe bcause some are concerned others may be "influenced" by listening to "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"?

I wonder how on earth they manage censorship of cds when they demand lyrics of every damn song?

Anonymous said...

oops, gathering of more than 4 is a crime without a police permit!
Here comes our Hero Syed Albar who will graciously request the IGP to grant exemptions during Christmas. What a Great Guy!
Bloody Hogwash.

Anonymous said...

Dear Sir Steven
I am a internet surfer, a Chinese girl from Pasir Mas Kelantam and I am your fan. I like so much how you write and issue you bring up. You are like saver of the planet, like super hero in modern time.
Please write about my village people here. We have trouble to eat pork because very much Muslim people here and they don't like people sell or eat pork. But pork is the best tasting meat for me. I think you like also.
Please write about my issue in your blog. Also tell all your friend to write.
Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Hello Brader, the rulling has been there since 1986, i remember i use to go and apply for the permit, and in then in 1990, the churches started applying for it on behalf of the Bec's, it is also the same for the hindu's anyway, when they have chariot procession etc, they too apply for it ... so whats the big issue la bro ... the churches are not complaining about it ... dont simply make a issue la Stephen... I am shocked that you being a christian is unaware of such regulation that has been existen for the last 20 odd years ... chill la .. To know god is to love god in all circumstances ... Blessed Christmas

Shanghai Fish said...

sfx,
The issue is about the lyrics...if you have no problem with that, fine by me, but I get upset....so can we stick to that ridiculous ruling by the authorities. I must confess I am not as spiritual a christian, as you portray yourself to be.
Do me a favor,next time you pray.....pray for me for being a moronic ignoramous. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

ladyRP remembers....at least 15-20 years of carolling in Ipoh n KL
.... permits have been there incl giving a list of our names and NRIC numbers

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephen, sorry I took so long to write, just got back to work. I did not expect you to highlight this in your Blog, only wanted a simple yes or no, as a result I was in deep shock since Friday. I would like to sincerely thank the rest who have shared your views on this topic.

LadyRP – 11/9/2008 10:17 you are right, if I remember, over here too the police require the NRIC numbers of all the adults (beside the lyrics). Thank you so much for your feedback.

The police permit is not for a week or a month, it is only for THREE nights & to disburse before 11pm. We are not going in truck loads, we are only walking.

“Over Here” meaning Wangsa Maju Section 2. Year 2007 we didn’t have any house-to-house Caroling. I think, the police had become too unreasonable about their requests. I am not sure if they wanted “duit-kopi” – oh come on, we all know our police, please don’t send me to jail for saying this and if it isn’t true forgive me. Hmmm..

So last year, after these requests (by the police) were discussed with the Parish Priest (Good Shepheard Air Panas) it was decided we will just have a one-off thing at the community hall that is beside Block D-13, Section 2, Wangsa Maju. We did just that, we did not fight our case. Justice will prevail. This year 2008, I believe it is the same affair.

Thanks for your attention, but what can we the minority lot do ?. God is our witness. Hey Stephen, thanks again a million and I will call later. . . LOLZ.

Yellow Rose of Texas

Anonymous said...

Mr Fish

The person who gave you this info is wrong, the police has never asked for the lyrics. not in KL and not in PJ. The MCCBHS has a good understanding with the police . Stephen whynot you write about other issues such as abuse of power in the press club, appointing event consultants for dinner who happen to be a con artist ... i mean yousit on your laurel and run everybody down, but there seem to be a lot shit taking place at NPC and its not written about ... why because you are getting a salary issit. will pray that you receive wisdom bro. Cheers see you on friday

zorro said...

Shang I am surprised that you allowed sfx to use your comment box to unload his frustrations on the way the NPC operates. If he is a member, you should print out this comment and as your exco to answer these guys accusations. I am very aware that the exco meets and decides on events and not the manager. Challenge this turd to come clean (oppsss, turd is filthy and never clean....never heard of clean shit, have you)and ask him to address his grievances to the exco and not be personal in this comment box. He is appearing on Friday and if he has got the guts he should produce what he excreted here in the complain book. The exco should withdraw his membership....or is he a a member. If he is, for Rm20 a year, he is a cheapo demanding the best in everything. Bet you he bargains with hookers too and probably ask for condom discount. Go get that cheapskate tiger.

Dominic said...

I have been Christmas Carolling since the 70's. While I can't remember the requirements during the 70's...(was too young to remember), I do remember that we needed permits in the 80's. It was nvr really a problem in getting the permits. But we nvr had to submit a list of songs and lyrics. We only submitted names and IC numbers, dates and where we were planning to go christmas carolling.

Anonymous said...

Stephen, don't worry about sfx.
We'll be doing a trace and the relevant people will be informed. As an indication, just good to know that there are people who can't write proper stories for nuts, but earn A-grade salaries as journalists, actually can find time to stir shit in the blogs.
sfx knows we know who he is. Let him be.. No use wasting your time on such scum.. His church is only a front.

Anonymous said...

Zorro,whats ur problem man why dont you just concentrate on your candle light dinner, sorry i meant Vigil .. why are you barking here, you should be barking at your blog man .... is there something you are trying to cover up as well with the shit that is happening in NPC .. come la zorro be honest dont be a fucking morron to tell me what I should be doing. Fuck Off man ! when I see you at the Wharf I will come and see you.... and buy you a beer ...

Anonymous said...

Steven, my sincere aplogies for leaving such a posting on your site, I know I should not blame you for whats happening , afterall you are employed to get your job done, M just frustrated with certain ppl who dont seem to be honest in NPC ... anyway bro sorry, I have also apologised to Bernard as well.... Cheers

P/S guangzhou crab : I am not a grade A journalist ... I am in Grace C but definitely my newspaper has a bigger and better circulation than yours .... so go and ^&*%$# . Afterall the NPC organising dinner and dance chairman is from the same company bro... cheers

Anonymous said...

Oh..ooooh.. sfx, you have touched our hearts with apologies.
I believe shanghai too can be very apologetic. So are many others, including myself.
Can you also enlighten us on a certain journalist, who earlier this year doubled as a PR man to drag the NPC into an event, which was part of his money-making scheme? We believe this journo still hasn't managed to fulfill a payment of several thousand ringgit to the NPC over serbices rendered.

P.S.: Just in case, tell the journalist he can expect an apology soon..

Anonymous said...

shang we are ardent followers of your blog....please check with the police department if there had been any changes in the application of permits for carolling during the christmas season......as far i am concern there has been no changes. the procedure has been the same for the past many years.....so be cautious that you dont get into trouble with the authorities....every land has its rules and regulations so ours is no different.....as for yellow rose of texas you are i believe a christian dont be lazy go to your church and ask for advise thats what they are there for besides conducting mass....so shang keep up the good work and hold on to your pistol or else you might shoot your own foot